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Kennedy Biographies

Kenneth J. Payne is the Deputy Director of the Spaceport Engineering and Technology Directorate of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center, effective May 7, 2000.

In his previous position, Payne was Director of Logistics Operations beginning February 1, 1998. His responsibilities included management of the contract for Space Shuttle orbiter flight hardware spares, repairs, and all the associated planning and management of the supporting vendor infrastructure. He was also responsible for oversight of International Space Station planning and operational logistics. He oversaw technical management of logistics functions of repair and spares for all launch processing ground systems and facilities for both Shuttle and payloads processing. He was responsible for operation of the Materials Science Laboratory, which performs failure analysis in support of all Center customers and provides development products and expertise. Other responsibilities included management of all Center logistics functions such as supply, transportation, equipment management, property disposal, and associated technical training.

Prior to joining NASA in February 1998, Payne served as Deputy Director of Requirements,
Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The
directorate was the command focal point for program and product management policy,
processes and resources.

Payne began his Federal civilian career in 1972, joining the Defense Contract Administration
Services District in Alabama as an analyst. After a period of service with the Defense Logistics
Agency, Payne moved to the Air Force in 1987, where he took on assignments of increasing
responsibility, including Deputy Director, Plans and Programs for the Ogden Air Logistics Center,
Deputy and acting F-16 System Support Manager; and Deputy System Program Director for the
F-16 and C-17 programs.

Payne and his wife, Jody, are originally from Wisconsin. They have two children, a son Nathan, and a daughter JoAnna.